Peacehaven dementia project within range
Southlanders have rallied behind Presbyterian Support Southland’s project to provide more beds for people with the most advanced dementia levels. Less than six months after launching the $386,000 project to provide six more psychogeriatric dementia beds at Peacehaven Village in Invercargill, only $55,417 is left to raise.
PSS chief executive Matt Russell was delighted the cause had resonated with individuals, community groups and community fundraisers.
“As is so often the case in Southland, the community has pulled together to get behind an important project for the region,’’ he said. Despite financially challenging times, community funders had contributed, particularly the ILT Foundation, Stewart Family Charitable Trust, PH Vickery Trust, Guy Anson Waddel Charitable Trust and Aotearoa Gaming Trust.
Several private donors had also proven generous.
The project involves creating the additional bedrooms as part of an upgrade of Peacehaven’s Enliven Iona dementia care unit, by repurposing office and storeroom space within the existing building footprint.
Work began mid-August and is to to be completed by the end of the year.
The Iona unit has two separate wings, one with 20 beds for less severely impacted patients (categorised as D3) and the other with 20 beds for those requiring specialised hospital-level care ( D6).
That is the highest level of dementia care available in New Zealand. PSS is the sole provider of psychogeriatric care in Southland. Care is also provided for people from the Whakatipu Basin, Wānaka and Central Otago areas, most of whom were referred when their dementia advanced.
Fundraising is continuing.